From 1866 to 1868, African American William Cathay served with the famed Buffalo Soldiers who patrolled the 900-mile Santa Fe Trail, and this soldier had a secret—she was a woman. Born into slavery in 1842 Missouri, Cathy Williams was freed by Northern soldiers, only to be compelled to join them. Phillip Tucker tells the remarkable true story of the indomitable woman who fought for her freedom, her country, and unsuccessfully, the pension and recognition that is a soldier's due.

"A unique story of gender and race, time and place, Tucker's work is a recommended read that reaches across categories, from American, African American, and military history to Western and women's history."—Library Journal